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11 Jan 2006 : Column 626W—continued
Departmental Staff
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many civil servants in her Department worked from home for at least one day a week in the last year for which figures are available. [40291]
Jim Knight: No specific data is held by the Department on the precise extent of home working by staff. However, the practice appears to be on the increase now that we are promoting smart working and new, flexible, working practices (including home working). Recent staff survey data shows that 83 percent. of staff believe they are encouraged to work flexibly. Whilst these approaches are designed to improve the way we do business and deliver more efficiently, data from the same survey shows that 67 percent. of staff said they were able to achieve the optimum work/life balance.
Digital Mapping
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to date is of the Rural Payments Agency's digital mapping exercise; how many staff have been employed for the exercise; at what cost; what the cost of the digital mapping software was; and what the annual running costs of the digital mapping exercise are. [40395]
Jim Knight [holding answer 9 January 2006]: Following the launch of the Rural Land Register in September 2004 the level of demand was higher than anticipated and this has affected the running costs for the first year.
The approximate cost of establishing and running the Rural Land Register to date is £16.4 million.
The approximate total number of staff including agency staff employed by the Rural Payments Agency for varying durations has been 865 at an approximate cost of £7.3 million.
The cost of the digital mapping software was £0.4 million.
The estimated annual running costs of the digital mapping exercise is £1.9 million.
Energy Consumption
Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will require local authorities to follow the example of Woking borough council in reducing energy consumption. [34481]
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Mr. Morley: Placing a requirement to act on local authorities would require the Government to fully fund this as a new burden. The Government cannot commit to beginning a programme of investment that had not been planned for. Neither Government nor local councils have made provision for such a programme.
However many local authorities are already actively reducing energy consumption, both in their own operations and in the communities they serve. Through the beacon council theme on sustainable energy the Government are ensuring that good practice is shared. Woking borough council was granted Beacon Council Status for its work on Sustainable Energy in 2005
EU Committees
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) Management Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for cereals, (b) Management Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for dehydrated fodder and (c) Management Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for sugar have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who was presiding over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement. [38784]
Mr. Morley: The Cereals Management Committee normally meets on a weekly basis in Brussels. The dates of meetings held during the UK presidency of the EU and the items discussed can be viewed at the following internet address:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/minco/manco/cereals/index.htm.
The Dried Fodder Management Committee met for the last time on 14 July 2005 in Brussels. A summary of the items discussed can be viewed at the following internet address:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/minco/manco/feed/index.htm.
In future, dried fodder issues will fall within the remit of the Cereals Management Committee.
The Sugar Management Committee meets on either a fortnightly or weekly basis, depending on the time of year, in Brussels. The dates of meetings held during the UK presidency and the items discussed can be viewed at the following internet address:
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/minco/manco/sugar/index.htm
The European Commission provides the Chair for each of these Committees. The UK is represented by officials from Defra and additionally, as necessary, by officials from the Rural Payments Agency and other UK Agriculture Departments.
Angus Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) Management Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for oils and fats, (b) Management Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for natural fibres
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and (c) Management Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for milk and milk products have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who was presiding over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved Governments; and if she will make a statement. [38786]
Jim Knight: The information is as follows:
(a) On 1 November the Management Committee for Fats and Oils became the Olive Oil Management Committee. It meets every month so during the UK presidency there have been six meetings. There was also a meeting when a vote was taken in the margins of another Management Committee. The meetings were chaired by European Commission officials. A Defra official represented the UK at each meeting. Reports of these meetings are copied to devolved administrations for information and comments.
(b) The Management Committee of the common organisation of agricultural markets for natural fibres met three times in the period: 5 September 2005, 17 November 2005, and 29 November 2005. The meetings were chaired by European Commission officials. Defra officials represented the UK at each meeting. Reports of these meetings are copied to members of the devolved administrations for information and comments.
(c) The Milk Management Committee met on 14 and 28 July, 25 August, 15 and 29 September, 13 and 27 October, 10 and 24 November, 15 December. The meetings were chaired by European Commission officials. Defra officials represented the UK at each meeting. Reports of these meetings are copied to members of the devolved administrations for information and comments, and during 2005 officials from the Welsh Assembly Government Environment, Planning and Countryside Department have attended as observers when subjects of particular interest were discussed.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) Committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for beef and veal, (b) management committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for sheep and goats and (c) management committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for pigmeat have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who was presiding over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved Governments; and if she will make a statement. [38788]
Jim Knight: The Beef and Veal Management Committee normally meets on a monthly basis in Brussels and is chaired by European Commission officials. The dates of meetings held during the UK presidency and the items discussed can be viewed at the following internet address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/minco/manco/beef/index.htm
The UK was represented at these meetings by officials from Defra. Officials from the Rural Payments Agency and other UK Agriculture Departments attend as necessary but did not do so during the UK presidency.
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The Sheep and Goat Management Committee met twice during the UK presidency (on 16 November and 7 December). Both meetings were chaired by European Commission officials. The UK was represented by Defra officials.
The Pigmeat Management Committee met during the UK presidency of the EU on 13 July, 20 September, 19 October, 16 November and 7 December 2005. Meetings were chaired by European Commission officials. The UK was represented by one official from Defra. The devolved authorities were consulted on agenda items prior to each meeting, and receive reports and papers shortly after each meeting.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU Committee on (a) geographical indications and protected designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs, (b) certificates of specific character for agricultural products and foodstuffs and (c) organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provision was made for representation of the devolved Governments; and if she will make a statement. [38822]
Jim Knight: The information is as follows:
(a) The Regulatory Committee on protected geographical indications and protected designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs met twice in the period: 4 October 2005 and 6 December 2005. Both meetings were chaired by an official from the European Commission. Two Defra officials represented the UK at each meeting. Arrangements are in place to consult with the devolved administrations on the business conducted by the Regulatory Committee.
(b) The Regulatory Committee on Certificates of Specific Character met once in the period: on 4 October 2005. The meeting was chaired by an official from the European Commission. Two Defra officials represented the UK. Arrangements are in place to consult with the devolved administrations on the business conducted by the Regulatory Committee.
(c) The Standing Committee on Organic Farming met three times in the period; on 1 July 2005, 26 September 2005 and 30 November/1 December 2005. The Committee is chaired by an official of the European Commission. Officials from Defra represent the UK. Arrangements are in place for consultation with the devolved administrations on the business conducted by the Standing Committee.
Angus Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) management committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for seeds, (b) management committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for live plants and floriculture products and (c) management committees of the common organisation of agricultural markets for bananas have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other
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UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement. [39012]
Jim Knight: Meetings of the Bananas Management Committee were held on 12 July, 15 November, 29 November and 13 December 2005. All four meetings were held in Brussels, chaired by officials of the European Commission and attended by Defra officials.
There were no meetings of the Management Committees of the common organisation of the markets for seeds or live plants and floriculture products during the UK presidency.
The UK Government takes into account the views and interests of the devolved administrations when formulating the UK's policy position on all EU and international issues which touch upon devolved matters. Provision for attendance at EU meetings by Ministers and officials of the devolved administrations is set out in paragraphs 4.12–15 of the Concordat on Co-ordination of European Union Policy Issues (part of the Memorandum of Understanding between devolved Ministers and the UK Government).
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) Implementation Committee for spirit drinks, (b) Implementation Committee on aromatised wine-based drinks and (c) Joint Meetings of Management or regulatory committees in the field of agriculture—promotion of agricultural products have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other UK representatives were present; what provisions were made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement. [39014]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Spirit Drinks Implementation Committee met once and the Joint Management Committee for the Promotion of Agricultural Products four times during the UK presidency of the EU. The Aromatised Wine Implementation Committee did not meet at all and has not done so since 2002.
The Spirit Drinks Implementation Committee meeting took place on 27 September 2005. Two DEFRA officials represented the UK. The Joint Management Committee for the Promotion of Agricultural Products meetings took place on 19 July 2005, 28 September 2005, 30 November 2005 and 21 December 2005. A DEFRA official represented the UK at July and September's meetings and a DEFRA official and a Rural Payments Agency official did so at November's meeting. Two Rural Payments Agency officials attended December's meeting. All of these meetings were presided over by European Commission officials.
The UK Government takes into account the views and interests of the devolved Administrations when formulating the UK's policy position on all EU and international issues which touch upon devolved matters. Provision for attendance at EU meetings by Ministers and officials of the devolved Administrations is set out in paragraphs B4.12–15 of the Concordat on Co-ordination of European Union Policy Issues (part of the Memorandum of Understanding between devolved Ministers and the UK Government). Ministers from the
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devolved Administrations have attended and do attend Councils, by agreement with the lead Whitehall Minister. A copy is available on the internet at:
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